Cal Matters

Factory-built housing hasn’t taken off in California yet, but this year might be different

By Ben Christopher, CalMatters. This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. As the first home rolled off the factory floor in Kalamazoo, Michigan — “like a

By Cal Matters

/ 16 Feb 2026

Factory-built housing hasn’t taken off in California yet, but this year might be different

Facing ‘extinction vortex,’ California grants new protections to some mountain lions

By Rachel Becker, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Just weeks after a mountain lion wandered into San Francisco, state officials voted to

By Cal Matters

/ 12 Feb 2026

Facing ‘extinction vortex,’ California grants new protections to some mountain lions

Los Angeles voters are moving ever leftward, shifting election politics in America’s second-largest city

By Jim Newton, CalMatters This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. How liberal is Los Angeles? That question is very much on the minds of

By Cal Matters

/ 9 Feb 2026

Los Angeles voters are moving ever leftward, shifting election politics in America’s second-largest city

California’s once soaring population has hit a plateau. So will its national political clout

By Dan Walters, CalMatters This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. The federal Census Bureau annually announces new population numbers for the country and its

By Cal Matters

/ 8 Feb 2026

California’s once soaring population has hit a plateau. So will its national political clout

New transit housing bill revives California’s Democratic divisions over local control

By Nadia Lathan, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Just months after lawmakers enacted major reforms to speed up home and apartment building,

By Cal Matters

/ 5 Feb 2026

New transit housing bill revives California’s Democratic divisions over local control

California judges defend their independence and the rule of law

When the rule of law is under attack, judges are among its natural defenders. But the very nature of their positions prevents them from doing or even saying much outside

By Cal Matters

/ 4 Feb 2026

California judges defend their independence and the rule of law

Gavin Newsom’s autobiography adds struggle to a story of a politically privileged past

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's new memoir aims to reframe his privileged past by highlighting personal struggles, including his parents' divorce, his mother's cancer, and his own battles with alcohol while addressing his Getty family connections.

By Cal Matters

/ 4 Feb 2026

California Governor Gavin Newsom preparing to deliver State of the State address at California State Capitol in Sacramento

Republican Steve Hilton leads California governor fundraising as large pool of Democrats lag

Republican Steve Hilton raised $4.1 million for California's gubernatorial race, outpacing prominent Democrats including Rep. Eric Swalwell and former Rep. Katie Porter. Only billionaire Tom Steyer, who poured $28M of his own money into the race, raised more.

By Cal Matters

/ 4 Feb 2026

Four Democratic candidates for California governor debate at UC Riverside, including Xavier Becerra, Tony Thurmond, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Betty Yee

It ‘took a village’ to heal her trauma and homelessness. Will California keep funding this help?

A Los Angeles woman shares how the Downtown Women's Center Trauma Recovery Center helped her overcome decades of trauma and homelessness. Now, Proposition 36 threatens funding for these vital programs across California.

By Cal Matters

/ 28 Jan 2026

Homeless encampment with multiple tents lining a street in Los Angeles' Skid Row neighborhood, illustrating the connection between trauma and homelessness in California

Newsom wants to overhaul state oversight of California schools. Will students benefit?

Gov. Newsom proposes a major restructuring of California's education system that would strip authority from the elected state superintendent and give control to the governor-appointed State Board of Education, aiming to streamline governance for 6 million students.

By Cal Matters

/ 26 Jan 2026

Students attending a classroom lesson at Melrose Leadership Academy in Oakland, California

Fires burn swiftly, but insurance battles linger: New bills propose consumer-friendly regulations

Jen Egan is still dealing with the aftermath of the Palisades Fire that damaged the home of her 83-year-old father, Paul, last January. That has meant more than a year

By Cal Matters

/ 23 Jan 2026

Fires burn swiftly, but insurance battles linger: New bills propose consumer-friendly regulations

Would California voters actually support a wealth tax on billionaires?

This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. In a sense, California has been taxing wealth since it became a state 175 years ago. Well into

By Cal Matters

/ 22 Jan 2026

Would California voters actually support a wealth tax on billionaires?